Trans-Siberian Winter Wonderland Route: Eastbound

Moscow to Vladivostok in Winter Aboard the Golden Eagle

Russia is fantastic in the winter. The country is at its most beautiful, the crackling air burnished by a fresh snowfall. Across Siberia, the faraway lights of the Trans-Siberian shine through the darkness like a moving beacon. Join us on this remarkable winter route.

Savor a Russian snack of vodka and caviar

Aboard the Golden Eagle

Skirt the frozen shore of UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal for spectacular viewsSpend some time admiring UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal on the fabulous Circumbaikal Old Railway, one of the most complicated and beautiful rail routes in the world...

Lake Baikal, Siberia

Spend some time admiring UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal on the fabulous Circumbaikal Old Railway, one of the most complicated and beautiful rail routes in the world. Then hydrofoil over the frozen lake for winter fun – dog-sledding, ice-fishing or snow-mobiling.

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance

Days 1-2: Moscow

Spend a night in a five star Moscow hotel and tour iconic Red Square and the Kremlin, or opt for a tour of the Tretyakov Gallery before boarding the distinctive private train on its way across seven time zones.

Highlights

Moscow, Russia’s capital and most important city

Moscow’s 870-year-old Kremlin and Red Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or the world-class Tretyakov Gallery of Russian art

Day 3: Kazan

Make a stop in Kazan, the beautiful capital of Tatarstan on the Volga, where a kremlin wall surrounds the old town, and where both minarets and Orthodox churches are found.

Highlights

UNESCO-listed Kazan Kremlin, once a fortress of the Golden Horde

Days 4-6: Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk

Cross the Europe/Asia divide just outside of Ekaterinburg, and tour the site where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were held prisoner and then executed by the Bolsheviks. In Novosibirsk, Siberia’s most important city, explore the country’s biggest Opera and Ballet Theater.

Highlights

Ekaterinburg’s Church on the Blood, where Nicholas II and his family perished

Largest opera house in Russia, located in Novosibirsk

Days 7-8: Irkutsk, Lake Baikal

Tour cultured Irkutsk, including a neighborhood of classic Siberian wooden architecture, and enjoy a private concert of accomplished classical musicians at the 19th century Decembrist House Museum. Take an opportunity to experience an authentic Russian banya, or steam bath, at a forest resort. Later, the train winds along the majestic frozen shores of UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, where the ice is often transparent. Board a hovercraft that crosses the lake to a spot where you can join in with locals ice-fishing, riding snowmobiles and running dogsleds.

Day 9: Ulan Ude

Stop in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic, a small city with a multiethnic background. Spend some time visiting with Orthodox Old Believers at a nearby village. Savor a home-cooked meal, and hear their marvelous chants, lyric songs and folk prayers, passed down intact from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Highlights

Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic with the world’s largest Lenin head

Village visit to Old Believers, exiled to Siberia after they rebelled against the 17th century reforms of the Orthodox liturgy

Days 10-13: Ulaanbaatar, Aboard Train

Dipping down on to the Mongolian steppe, make a day-long visit to the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Investigate its National History Museum, providing a look into the steppe nomads’ history and culture, ranging from the dawn of humanity through the incredible empire of Genghis Khan and on to the present day. Relax onboard the comfortable train as it barrels back up to Russia and east across the mighty Amur River.

Highlights

Ulaanbaatar, capital and most important city in Mongolia

National History Museum, an overview of the country’s history and culture

Days 14-15: Vladivostok

At the end of this momentous journey, explore the Pacific Rim naval port of Vladivostok, including a tour of a restored submarine, before transferring to a four star hotel for a final night and a festive farewell dinner.

Highlights

Vladivostok, Pacific Rim port city and terminus of the Trans-Siberian line

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

2020 Dates

What’s Included

On Your Tour

Per the itinerary, 2 nights shared accommodation in well-located hotels.

All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day, including a generous, though not unlimited, allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.

Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.

All guided off-train tours per itinerary.

The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.

Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

Prepare for Your Trip

International Airfare

MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.

Travel Insurance

Stay a Little Longer…

MIR can arrange for an extended program in St. Petersburg, Moscow, or Eastern or Central Europe before or after your tour. Consider St. Petersburg – easy to see year-round – and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, especially in the winter. All of MIR’s destinations are open to you, and all can be attached to this program. Please contact MIR for more details about exciting options for extended travel.

Is this Trip Right for You?

This trip is moderately active, and rated moderate to rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least a mile a day, keeping up with fellow travelers.

A full list of details about the rigors of this tour are explained in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.

MIR clients Helge Pedersen and Karen Ofsthus ride the rails of the fabled Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar on MIR's Trans-Siberian private rail journey as they check in from each stop with stories, photos and video.... Read More

MIR in the News

MIR’s one-of-a-kind exploration of the Russian space program has gotten a starring role in several media outlets recently, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, leading Spanish-language travel magazine Conocedores, the Mat... Read More

Luxury Travel Advisor, a leading publication covering “the latest news and trends in luxury travel,” advises adding MIR’s new small group journey From the Heavenly Tien Shan to the High Pamirs to your 2019 bucket list. ... Read More

From the Blog

Uzbekistan is already extremely appealing, with its domed mosques and madrassahs clad in vivid ceramic tiles, and with the endemic hospitality of its culture. But now, after a first-ever International Tourism Forum, Uzbekista... Read More

Marisa Dodd, Assistant Tour Specialist at MIR, recently returned from her first trip to Uzbekistan – a country she had long dreamt of visiting. Her experience made a lasting impression. She was surprised to discover how smo... Read More

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

The perfect combination of remote destinations and comfortable accommodations, rail journeys by private train open a world of discovery to travelers who enjoy comfort and leisure time as well as exciting new vistas.

The exclusive Golden Eagle private train furnishes the dream of Old World rail travel with modern comforts and amenities that make the journey as pleasant as the destination. The luxurious Golden Eagle is a fully en suite train and a restful and satisfying way to experience legendary rail routes.

Train & Hotel Accommodations

Relax and enjoy the panorama rolling past your private window and disembark for guided off-train touring in fascinating towns and cities along the way.

Each sleeping carriage on the Golden Eagle has its own attendants who provide bed turndown service, plus tea, coffee and mineral water 24 hours a day. Attendants keep an eye on everything while guests are away from the train. L’Occitane body products, as well as premium bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer, are provided in all cabin categories.

Imperial Suite

Imperial Suites are the most beautiful and spacious cabins available onboard the Golden Eagle. Measuring a surprising 120 sq ft (11.1 sq meters), they are furnished with a luxurious king size bed, dedicated seating area, dressing table and private en suite facilities with large power shower and under floor heating. Individual air-conditioning, wardrobe, DVD/CD player with LCD screen and two large picture windows make the cabin a pleasant retreat.

Gold Class

Gold Class cabins are well-proportioned and feature modern en suite amenities including power showers, under floor heating, a DVD/CD player, LCD screen, remote-controlled air-conditioning/heating, recessed lighting and wardrobe and a personal safe. Each cabin is configured with upper and lower berths, and can accommodate double, twin or single occupancy.

Note: The 5th compartment is of a slightly different layout (68 sq ft), and will normally be allocated to single guests.

(click on photo to see larger version)

Silver Class

Silver Class cabins are more compact than Gold Class cabins with similar facilities. Silver Class cabins feature the same amenities as Gold Class cabins but in a smaller space and with a smaller, wet room-style shower area.

Hotel Accommodations

The first and last nights of most tours are spent in well-appointed four and five star hotels. Some tours feature additional hotel nights. Please review the detailed itinerary for specifics pertaining to each tour and departure. Additional nights before and after any tour can be arranged on request.

Life Aboard the Train

The Golden Eagle private train provides everything you need for a pleasurable journey. Join travelers from around the world to enjoy the relaxed and casual environment onboard, with no need to wear formal attire on excursions or while dining.

Train formations are not fixed, as the composition varies to suit the number of passengers on a given departure. Group sizes on winter trips are generally more intimate than spring, summer or fall departures. The exact configuration of the train on any particular journey may not be determined until close to departure.

Please note that a variety of cabins styles are in use aboard the train. Decor, layout, type and number of dining, bar and sleeping cars on your journey may differ from the sample images depicted in our brochures/websites.

Bar/Lounge Car

A Bar/Lounge Car is a favorite destination in the train formation and is typically included on most departures. The lounge offers a relaxing and comfortable area where you can enjoy a drink, take language lessons, and gather around the piano with other passengers.

Dining Cars

Dining Cars feature local and European cuisine complemented by a selection of local and European wines (except on trips in Iran). Dining cars are multi-purpose, used for on-board lectures and viewing documentaries. One or more dining cars may be included in the train formation of any given departure depending on the number of passengers.

Off-Train Tours

Rail journeys feature an extensive selection of educational city tours in the various stops on our routes. Private coaches and local guides whisk you away from your private train for fascinating half- or full-day forays into the principal towns and cities, sometimes including an in-city dining opportunity. Read through this tour’s itinerary for more information (found on the Itinerary & Map tab of this page).

Have a Question?

Send us your question below and we will get back to you soon. We can also be reached by phone 8:30am-5:30pm Pacific time, Monday-Friday toll free at 800-424-7289.

Search the Blog

Traveler Reviews

“This is trip of a lifetime and more than just a train journey. This is also a chance to see a phenomenal cross-section of Russia (and Mongolia) in a relatively short time. Great camaraderie and interaction with the passengers.”- A. Mowatt Jr. - New York, NY